What insurance company is Medi-Cal?

Asked by: Evans Koelpin  |  Last update: September 21, 2023
Score: 4.9/5 (69 votes)

Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program that provides medical services to low-income people at little or no cost. It is administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).

What type of insurance is Medi-Cal?

Medi-Cal is California's version of the Federal Medicaid program. Medi-Cal offers no-cost and low-cost health coverage to eligible people who live in California. The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) oversees the Medi-Cal program. Your local county office manages most Medi-Cal cases for DHCS.

Is Blue Cross the same as Medi-Cal?

Medi-Cal Managed Care (Medi-Cal)

are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Association. Anthem is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. Blue Cross of California is contracted with L.A. Care Health Plan to provide Medi-Cal Managed Care services in Los Angeles County.

Is Kaiser the same as Medi-Cal?

Kaiser Permanente participates in Medi-Cal in many counties. This means that if you are a current Kaiser Permanente member and your situation changes, you may be able to keep your same doctor and continue your care with Kaiser Permanente if you qualify for Medi-Cal.

Can I still go to Kaiser with Medi-Cal?

Qualify for Kaiser Permanente

You may be able to become a Medi-Cal Managed Care member with Kaiser Permanente. You must qualify for Medi-Cal and live in a county where Kaiser Permanente has a contract to provide Medi-Cal Managed Care services.

What are the differences between Covered California, health insurance companies, and Medi-Cal?

39 related questions found

Is Medi-Cal and Medicaid the same?

Medi-Cal is the same as Medicaid in California. It is a Federal and state-supported form of insurance that pays for various medical services for California residents with limited income and resources.

What is the new name for Medi-Cal?

On January 1, 2023, Cal MediConnect plans transitioned to Medicare Medi-Cal plans (MMPs or Medi-Medi plans) provided by the same companies that provided Cal MediConnect plans.

Does Blue Shield have a Medi-Cal plan?

Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan currently serves Medi-Cal members in Los Angeles and San Diego counties. In Los Angeles County, we are contracted with L.A. Care Health Plan. In San Diego County, we are contracted with the Department of Health Care Services.

Can I go to any hospital with Medi-Cal insurance?

Emergency Rooms: As stated above, if you have an emergency and you cannot find a doctor right away, you can go to the emergency room at any hospital. If you show your BIC to staff at the emergency room, Medi-Cal will pay for the services you receive.

How do I know what kind of Medi-Cal I have?

Contact your local county social services office to learn about your Medi-Cal status and eligibility. The California Department of Health Care Services has a full directory of each county's agency.

Is Medi-Cal a state plan?

​California's Medicaid State Plan

The Medicaid State Plan is based on the requirements set forth in Title XIX of the Social Security Act and is a comprehensive written document created by the State of California that describes the nature and scope of its Medicaid (Medi-Cal) program.

Is Medi-Cal federal or state?

Medi-Cal is a public health insurance program for low-income Californians. Medi-Cal—California's Medicaid program—is a state-federal program that offers free or low-cost health coverage to Californians with low family incomes.

Is Medi-Cal free?

Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program. This is a public health insurance program that provides free or low cost medical services for children and adults with limited income and resources.

Do I have to pick a Medi-Cal plan?

Most people who get Medi-Cal have to join a plan, but some do not. If you think you don't have to join a plan, you can ask for an exemption (release) from joining. Use one of the exemption forms on the Download forms page. Or call Health Care Options (HCO) Medi-Cal Managed Care at 1-800-430-4263 (TTY 1-800-430-7077).

Do all pharmacies take Medi-Cal?

Almost all pharmacies in California are part of the RX network. This means you probably do not need to find a new pharmacy. But if you would like to see all RX pharmacies near you, please use the pharmacy locator on Medi-CalRx.dhcs.ca.gov.

Does Anthem Blue Cross accept Medi-Cal?

Anthem Blue Cross is a health plan for people who have Medi-Cal. You can call us “Anthem.” Anthem is offered through L.A. Care. L.A. Care works with the State of California to help you get the health care you need.

Is Blue Shield California good insurance?

Blue Shield of California is seventh on Insure.com's list of the Best Health Insurance Companies for 2023. The company received an impressive 4 out of 5 stars from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. NCQA evaluates healthcare plans on, among other things, member satisfaction.

What changes to Medi-Cal in 2023?

Starting January 2023, Medi-Cal health coverage for most remaining dually eligible beneficiaries changed from Fee-For-Service (FFS) Medi-Cal to Medi-Cal Managed Care. Medi-Cal managed care enrollment does ​​NOT affect a beneficiary's Medicare providers or Medicare Advantage plan.

Will I lose my Medi-Cal if I get a job?

If you get Medi-Cal coverage and then get a job, you have a couple of options for keeping your Medi-Cal benefits. If you got Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cash benefits before you got your job, Social Security's 1619(b) program lets you earn up to $56,758 annually and still keep Medi-Cal coverage at no cost.

Is Medi-Cal better than Medicaid?

Medi-Cal is what we call the joint Federal-State Medicaid program in California (just like Covered California is what we call Obamacare in California). Medi-Cal and Medicaid are essentially the same thing.

Does Medi-Cal cover health insurance?

Medi-Cal is health coverage, just like the coverage offered through Covered California. Medi-Cal provides benefits similar to the coverage options available through Covered California, but often at lower or no cost to you or your family.

Can you have both Medi-Cal and Medicare?

Some people qualify for both Medicare and Medi-Cal and are “dual eligible” or Medi Medi beneficiaries. When an individual has both Medicare Parts A and B, Medicare is the primary insurance and pays for most medical care.

What is the downside of Medi-Cal?

There is a fundamental problem with Medi-Cal that is hindering patient access to care, and to specialists in particular – Medi-Cal physician reimbursement is so low that physicians cannot cover the cost of providing care.